iRise is a community-centered organization, founded and lead by St. Cloud, Minnesota residents.
iRise hopes to promote St. Cloud voices through engagement, awareness, and education. Particularly, we aim to empower refugees and immigrants to claim their voices and own their future in St. Cloud. The influx of refugees and immigrants arrived in Central Minnesota in the last two decades has resulted in changing longtime residents’ attitudes toward the new Americans. Open expressions of hostility to refugees and immigrants is in part due to limited understanding of the culture and origin of the new arrivals. The often exacerbated outside speakers coming into St. Cloud create a dark overcast on our town. Unfortunately, their momentary input hinders the efforts of dialogue and community building by St. Cloud residents.
In addition, the national political rhetoric presenting refugees and immigrants as a threat to America has whipped up often suppressed negative sentiments toward refugees and immigrants out in the open and to the full view of all.
iRise is the forefront in addressing these heightened challenges in our community, Central Minnesota. We will foster dialogue, reduce prejudice and help keep the public grounded in the importance of bridge-building and solidarity with Central Minnesota’s newest residents.
iRise will do this through our three core areas of focus: community organizing, leadership building, and economic development.
Our Mission:
Amplify Central Minnesota voices by claiming our own narrative
Educate and empower refugees and immigrants to claim their voices and own their future.
Bridge resources through accountability, action, and affirmation